The University Board of Trustees elected two new members and re-elected five incumbents May 11. Members of the University's Commission for Women said they will be working on three of its top priorities this summer - job reclassification, staff recruitment and retention and family care - in an activities report presented to the Board of Trustees May 11. A letter sent by the state's second largest union to University President Bryce Jordan in which Penn State's racial environment was severely criticized did not take into account recent measures, University officials say. Plans for an estimated $8 million alumni center have been postponed because of a lack of private funds needed for construction, University President Bryce Jordan said at a Board of Trustees meeting May 12. The new dean to the College of Science, Gregory Geoffroy, said he is entering his position with two main goals in mind -- increasing financial resources and establishing personal relationships with the college's faculty. The State College Borough Council unanimously approved the Centre Area Transportation Authority's $2.39 million 1989-1990 budget Monday. From a distance it looked like an ancient, miniature graveyard, but the apparent epithets were not typical graveyard fare: "Let's Party," "Lefties do it Right," "I Love you Dante, Love Me," "Finky was here," and "The Christians womb is the tomb." Sharing their shock and sadness at the events occurring in China, over 700 people gathered Tuesday in the HUB Ballroom to remember those who died in Sunday's massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Municipalities of the Centre Region moved one step closer to consolidation May 22, as the members of the Centre Region Council of Governments unanimously decided to commission a feasibility study of the proposal. The investigators from the state Office of the Attorney General who were examining the last semester's racial incidents closed their downtown office and returned to Harrisburg April 28. Local day-care worker Nina Fellin told fellow workers and community members Monday that she enjoys working with the children she looks over on a daily basis, but noted "it is impossible to care for children under incorrect conditions." Prison employees at the State Correctional Institution at Rockview began cleaning up May 9 an unauthorized dump site besmirched with more than 500 industrial-sized contaminated containers. State College residents enduring the road construction work above the Mount Nittany Expressway by Routes 322 and 26, will have to face another two traffic route changes before the work is slated to be finished Oct. 27. A joint effort by the University Office of Residence Hall Programs and Police Services seems to have reduced participation in disrobing activities following the annual Mifflin Streak, said John Brodeur, supervisor of Mifflin and McElwain Halls. The creators of last semester's Abbie Hoffman Memorial School is Hell PSU Professor Survey say they hope other students build on their attempt to start a student-run evaluation of University professors. Working to meet a June 16 deadline for complete demolishment, the owner of an Allen Street building destroyed by fire May 20 said yesterday no clean-up can begin until the co-owners arrive in State College. The Pennsylvania Special Olympics Summer Games, to be held at the University today, tomorrow and Saturday, will feature two new events and more athletes during its second consecutive year at Penn State. University officials say cultural awareness among incoming freshmen will increase with a program and video titled "The Many Worlds of Penn State," but one student leader says the video lacked representation of diversity. While the University received fewer admission applications for fall semester this year than in 1988, University officials said they predict no decline in actual enrollment figures. Area homeowners will be faced with higher property taxes if the State College Area School Board approves its proposed 1989-90 fiscal budget next Monday.
A successful year for the rugby team came to a close the weekend of May 6-7 when the Ruggers lost both their games at the National Collegiate Rugby Championships held at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. As if winning their second national championship in three years weren't enough, five members of the women's lacrosse team were named All-Americans by the Brine-Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Association at the end of May. After a season filled with turmoil and controversy, seniors Chris Chase and Robert Pierce wanted to end their volleyball careers on a high note -- like with a national championship. WEST CHESTER -- Last season, Penn State's hopes of becoming the first team to capture consecutive NCAA women's lacrosse championships died at the hands of Temple. It was the Lady Lions' third straight appearance in the title game, but they had won only once, in 1987. When the trees and grass start getting greener and people start wearing shorts and tank tops, you know the fitness craze is back. At Penn State, this usually means great feats of athletic prowess -- like intramurals -- will soon be attempted in a continuous quest to achieve physical fitness. Advancing to the NCAA tournament is the dream of every collegiate athlete, whether it is in team competition such as basketball, or in more individualized competition such as wrestling. Imagine how much more special that postseason appearance would be if that athlete knew he or she was the first person ever to do it at that school.
My Opinion: Marc Freeman